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5/18/14

Coming Out

So despite the fact that I work for an LGBT publisher, most of my friends are on the LGBT spectrum, and I've taught my mom things about the LGBT community and identity, I've never been out to my parents.

Part of this is because I feel that coming out shouldn't be a thing I have to do. No one should. We shouldn't assume anything about anybody. Not really. Part of my not coming out was worry about how my father would take it. And part of it is just the flexibility that my identity encompasses. Coming out seems like trying to put my identity in a picture frame, when it reality it's more like a lava lamp.

But on Mothers' Day, my mom and I were chatting and she asked, "Are you gay?"

And I answered, "Yes. Sorta. It's complicated. But yes, I'm on the LGBT spectrum."

Because explaining that currently I'm probably identifying as gray-asexual, panromantic, genderqueer is complicated.

We talked a little about why she suspected and she asked if I was okay with it. (She's a guidance counselor and knows depression can be a problem among LGBT youths. I explained that since I had my own financial support and great friends, I was okay. Plus, my brother would totally side with me if my parents had disowned me.) I didn't stress that my depression had nothing to do with being LGBT.

And then she asked why I didn't tell her. And I asked if my brother had come out to her as straight. No, of course not. And I asked why it was any different. Just because it's not the 'norm' doesn't mean I should have to announce it. Do I have to come out about liking that Finnish band I dig? That's not common either. Or hating scrapple and growing up Pennsylvania Dutch. That's outside the norm.

If we stop making assumptions about people, then we can find out when the time is right. Because otherwise in college I would have told them I'm bisexual. And then tweaked that description. And then again. Because I'm still finding myself.

Also, until it is involved in their lives, I'm not sure why it really matters. I don't tell them about kink stuff, do I?

Yeah, pretty sure they don't want to hear that. :D

So my mom (and I assume she told my dad) know I'm on the LGBT spectrum.

And ten minutes later she asked why I don't shave my legs. I replied, "Why doesn't Dad shave his legs?"

"Writers should not be writing in the hope of pleasing some imaginary audience. First and foremost, you write to please yourself, then you try to find the right publisher for the kind of thing you write, and then you promote in the hope of finding enough readers who share your same love of stories." — Josh Lanyon